Clovis man, 19, killed not wearing seatbelt in SUV crash, CHP says. Driver ran a stop sign
A 19-year-old Clovis man was killed Wednesday after being ejected from an SUV when a driver ran a stop sign southeast of Fresno, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The 19-year-old did not appear to be wearing a seatbelt as he was as passenger in a Toyota Rav4 heading north on Temperance near North avenues about 12:45 a.m., CHP said.
UPDATE: Coroner identifies victim in fatal crash
North Avenue does not have a stop sign at that intersection, but Temperance does. CHP said Benjamin Villa Fuerte, 48, of Fresno failed to stop as he drove north on Temperance, putting his Toyota Rav4 in the direct path of a Toyota Corolla.
Neither Villa Fuerte nor the Corolla driver, 21-year-old Moises Mendoza of Fresno, were able to take evasive action, CHP said, and the Corolla struck the passenger side of the Rav4.
Both cars left the roadway and ended up in a dirt field, CHP said, where the Rav4 overturned and ejected the 19-year-old. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mendoza was taken to Community Regional Medical Center with major injuries, CHP said
Officers said the drivers did not appear to be impaired and nobody was arrested.
This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 8:18 AM with the headline "Clovis man, 19, killed not wearing seatbelt in SUV crash, CHP says. Driver ran a stop sign."
